How to Use Color Temperature: A Demonstration

During these last couple of weeks of painting demonstrations, I have received so many requests to show my palette as I mix my colors.
So, this week I do just that! Specifically, I talk about color temperature. Value is the most important aspect of composition, but color temperature is what allows us to pull more life of those value masses in our paintings.
I take a pretty simple image of a beach and I focus on the mixing and painting of two sets of temperature shifts. The warm and cool colors of the trees, and the warm and cool colors of the sand.
Here are the colors on my palette in the demonstration to achieve a color wheel: Titanium white, cadmium yellow lemon, yellow ochre, cadmium orange, alizarin permanent, dioxazine purple, ultramarine blue, chrome oxide green.
I hope you enjoy!
Link to join my email list so you receive these videos weekly to your inbox: www.ianroberts.com/e-learning...
My website: www.ianroberts.com/
Facebook page: / ianrobertsartist
Instagram @ianrobertsartist: / ianrobertsartist
#masteringcomposition #ianroberts #colortemperature

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Does this help clarify how to use color temperature?

[@fatoomgierdien2181]

Hi... Your way of Simplifying what you see visually, is Phenomenal Artistry. Thank You. Cape Town.

[@francesmorris6293]

You are the BEST teacher, Ian. Love watching your videos!!!

[@joannsturgeon2540]

Very clear and simplified. Thank you.

[@pthaloblue100]

This video was incredibly helpful! I painted the loveliest little landscape full of shadow and light after trying out your color palette and techniques, thank you so much!

[@135talmont]

Yes! Moreover, it explains why my colors get muddy. Dark/cool and light/warm is really a lightbulb for me. I paint with acrylic but the concept should be the same. Thank you! I love your videos.

[@luiscandeias1180]

composition -> value -> temperature That was a powerful lesson. Thank you.

[@marieroslind1479]

So good to see you mixing the Colors! Thank you!

[@maquisart7403]

You're not only the best but also the most generous Art teacher on KZbin. Your Art keeps a lot from the 19th and early 20th centuries's spirit... and skills. You changed a life, litterally. Thank you so much !

[@shekhar2345678]

you are my favourite art teacher

[@loretacolantonio7398]

Ciao from Italy. I paint in watercolour but I’m learning soooo much from you!

[@smasica]

Clear, straightforward, and to the point. Thanks, Ian. A thought on simplifying. My biggest difficulty is breaking away from the subconscious tendency to be a copyist of a scene instead of an interpreter. I try to keep in mind that my goal is not to document, it's to create from the raw materials I see.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That is a huge piece, and a huge shift mentally. It is a right brain shift I think to thinking in terms of design and not subject. When you look through the lens of design then everything is there to support that rather than supporting all the details.

[@peterelmer9114]

I come from a photography and graphic design background and I really struggle to be spontaneous and simplify when painting. It’s such a difficult mental shift; my wife keeps telling me to stop when I’ve “roughed” in a painting but I usually don’t and then overwork. It’s a constant battle between mass and detail. Your tutorials are helping me a lot in my struggle. 👍

[@songemaestronsunza4407]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition jjkĺ

[@rachelscottart6908]

It's so helpful to have colour temperature - warm light, cool shadows - demonstrated. You teach in such an engaging and clear way. Thank you!

[@sabina9611]

Ian, thank you so much! Your videos are so helpful. I binge-watch them! Although I have an artist block, watching the process of painting inspires me to continue my own journey. Art is one of the few things that make my eyes sparkle

[@miralaartist1916]

I am so grateful for your videos. If I had a teacher like you in school it would make a massive difference. So I am studying with you now. Thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you are!

[@annsowers4591]

That came together beautifully. Thank you.

[@patricialopez-qi3xk]

Great demo. Can't wait to try it.

[@angeliquedolle8581]

I love your demos .especially this one; I always keep watching shadows and their influence on surrounding colours!

[@emilybalch5842]

Ian, I so appreciate these demos...you are very generous with your time and expertise. Thank you for showing how you mix colors because it is incredibly informative and helpful.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Emily. Best wishes, Ian.

[@rainazichterman2537]

Hi Ian, I found your by accident and I love the way you explain temperature. You make it seem so easy. I’ve been working getting the values right. Seeing shapes first instead of details and the mixing of colors is an ongoing challenge for me. But with a lot of practice I am able to loosen up and let my right brain do the talking. Thank you so much for these wonderful tutorials.

[@seanfella]

Thank you, this is such a practical demonstration of temperature as well as value. Really helpful!

[@mariajennett5608]

Great lesson!, Thank you so much for your time and interesting information. It is very helpful and reassuring to see your demo.

[@noumine]

wow this has been tremendously helpful! lightbulb moment for me for sure. thank you for sharing! I love those grays.

[@davidmolloy126]

Thanks very much for another great tutorial. Really inspiring.

[@donnabradford7556]

This was awesome!!!! So glad I found your channel!

[@arti22live]

very nice, very inspirational!

[@kamleshsunak3176]

Loved the demonstration. Thanks for showing the color temperature ,mixes.

[@snakewomangirl]

Brilliant, such a gift, I’ve been trying to figure out the relationship between tone and temperature for ages. Thank you 😁

[@karicreates7668]

Yes thank you. I bought your book years ago but this is better for me

[@janetsunshine8689]

Thank you, Ian. This is very helpful.

[@kill3rkitt3ns]

I’ve learned so much…subbed with notifications on! Thank you 🙏

[@suresh.karthikeyan]

I loved it, Mr. Magician👏👏👏

[@parisarezaeimianroodi8359]

I also like the poem you have in the background :)

[@artlovervictoria]

Your skill is superb but what stikes me above all is how you take an unremarkable photo and make a great image! I need to revisit my many blah travel photos to see if they have potential using your instruction. Thank you.

[@boboluv2]

Thanks for showing us your colour palette which really helps me learn more about colours. Hopefully you can make more videos on mixing colours etc…. Thanks!

[@dougking1534]

Wow always learn so much from your videos thanks

[@kelleymcbride4633]

Beautiful thank you! 🔥✏🎨

[@roselynbaruch3697]

I love the effect of warm next to cool! Thank you for showing how. Love how you simplify and your explanation is so clear. always looking forward to your next tutorial. Most appreciated 🙂

[@jamesbeatty839]

Great job explaining this!

[@emmawright9173]

Such an inspirational painter you are. Thanks so much for your video tutorials which I find are illuminating

[@Lafortuneist]

It look nice....wow!

[@lazar2949]

This really helps me. I still have a lot to learn and i almost always get bad results, but yours way is so simple and motivating because even without too much skill i can make a painting look like something. Thanks!

[@fatoomgierdien2181]

I enjoy your Process. Thank YOU MUCH

[@andrewbellavie795]

Really helpful thanks Ian

[@jura9484]

this is really helpful, thanks!

[@marystewart7080]

Thank you for the reminder Ian!!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Mary, so nice to hear from you. Yes reminders. Could use them on most of life's little challenges. All the best to you.

[@hazelgardner957]

Its so inspirational to see how different the colours you use are from your reference image and yet your paintings are still realistic and stunning! I find myself worrying too much about matching hues exactly that I lose the "feeling" of the subject

[@thepaintedcakebyjenniferfr8274]

You make it look so easy. You are an amazing painter 😍

[@pintorazer6006]

Thank you maestro! Great lesson!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Azer. Appreciate your letting me know.

[@laurelpowell3678]

Thank you Ian. I learned so much from this demo. A demo is worth a million words.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Could you image that whole demo being carefully described step by step in words.

[@garygreenfield5969]

A valuable demonstration about the use of color temperature and color mixing. Great stuff.

[@lyncoombs1230]

For me, watching your deft mixing of colours on the glass palette was helpful and fascinating. The knowledgeable mixing demonstrated your lifelong experience with colour, a treat to watch.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Lyn, I suppose it's a bit like watching a guitar player finger picking. On the one hand it looks so easy and effortless, on the other, you realize maybe it's not (at least my hours of practice have led me to think that). Best wishes to you and Chip, ian

[@solea59]

Hello Ian , I asked the other day about your colour wheel. Luckily I just found the video I was looking for ! thank you .

[@daledibello3450]

Great demo Ian! Thanks for this series you are doing.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Most welcome Dale. Glad you are enjoying it.

[@joanistotler8804]

Extremely helpful and engaging, Ian - thanks so much!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Great Joani. Glad you liked it.

[@jjroseknows777]

Thank you again. Great lesson, again. (My second one.)

[@PradipAgrawalPatna]

Great lesson

[@maxlinesartist]

Wonderful tutorial Highly recommend those video's

[@farzadnematollahi6592]

Hi Ian Your teaching is so useful and unique. Thanks a lot. Farzad from south of Iran

[@judyfranklin9577]

Many thanks Ian for another super demonstration , I look forward to learning from you every week , you explain it all so clearly , and the bonus for me is that I am left handed as well so lovely to watch you paint my way !

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Yes Judy I think there should be a left handed painters association with national exhibitions and awards. Delighted you are enjoying the videos. Best, Ian.

[@miraakoi2151]

Hi Ian, Hope you are fine? Thanks so much for sharing these videos they are super helpful and brings back so much of what you taught during the great workshops I attended with you in Provence! This is great for practising and seeing …….mixing greens really helped me ! Many thanks , Mira

[@SpiderSolitaireSolving]

That was amazing. Thanks a lot

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome!

[@dawnmillett4875]

Wow!!! Finally I get it!!! Thank you for this concise lesson🙂

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Dawn!

[@patjeffers9431]

Thank you! Very clear.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Great Pat. Glad it was helpful.

[@dorisvienneau8681]

Very helpful video...well explained and demonstrated. thanks.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful Doris. And thanks for letting me know,.

[@rsbagley3451]

Great demo....nicely simplified.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Ramona

[@gaylemartin6498]

This was very helpful in seeing the importance of value and temperature and how they can create a sense of light. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Gayle.

[@00vTv00]

Nice analogies describing key techniques.

[@123tabatha]

So helpful Thanks

[@robinmcewan7390]

Great video! Demo and commentary very useful

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Robin. Glad you found it helpful.

[@rudyadnan1445]

Wonderful 👍👍👍

[@orlane219]

Great video. Thank you Ian for giving us the keys to enter the world of values and color temperature. I learned so much this time and I am going to translate to watercolor. Be well.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Really glad you found it helpful Hannah.

[@karenharris3808]

I discovered that color can show depth if you are trying to show a distance between front and background. Lighter greens and darker greens and shadows.

[@rebeccabraterman7168]

Fabulous thankypi so much

[@marieroslind1479]

Thank you🌺

[@annameier5000]

Замечательно красиво... я прололжаю смотреть вашу живопись каждый день... вы прекрасный художник... Благодарю!!! ❤

[@candacetroystudios]

Ian, Just found your videos! I’ve used your book, Mastering Composition, for years. Love you presentation. Thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Candace, I am delighted you have found the videos. Welcome!

[@marieroslind1479]

Dear Ian, I’m on your drawing course now, but on the same time it is so useful to review all your Tuesday videos! Makes a good repetition- “the mother of skill” (Swedish expression) 😉/ Such good education! /Thank you/🎨🖼

[@patriciaolivares9842]

Hello, I am a new subscriber, though I don’t paint i do find your videos “engaging”, instructive and encouraging. I am mostly interested in drawing with pencils. I am starting from zero but having fun in the process. Your videos help a ton. Thank you!

[@marieczm5970]

Love the video. Yes, it does help, and thank you for doing this. I just finished reading your book "Creative Authenticity". The most inspiring book I have read on my journey to creativity.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked the video and of course the book. With best wishes on that journey, Ian.

[@nancymoodyart]

I liked how you mixed the two cool Colors/darker values side by side on your palette. Then the same for the lighter value/warm colors. So it helped to keep them respectively close in value. Now to translate to watercolors for myself. I have so much to learn!! Thank you .

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful at least conceptually. Now to watercolors!

[@skidisciple]

Thanks!!

[@leesaunders5495]

Clearly explained

[@adventuresofdar4155]

great video lesson!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it!

[@bearbait7405]

Thank you.

[@paintlady2268]

Yes, always informative. I enjoy watching painting demos. May sound odd, yet when looking at a photo of a painting there is that first impression. If it grabs my attention, even if it doesn't sometimes, I love to figuratively zoom in and study the brush strokes, the dabs, their direction. Essentially the hand of the artist. Then I imagine their exact process. The when of the how. Oh, and my copy of Mastering Composition just arrived. Looking forward to diving into it.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Brenda (painted lady was brenda right), enjoy the book. Best wishes, Ian.

[@paintlady2268]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Yes, that's me.

[@chermontro]

So grateful for your teachings and thrilled at your talent and skill. I wonder if it's "ok" sometimes to allow the unpainted canvas to be an area of strong light? I was trying painting something the other night and liked what in my mind's eye looked like a wonderful bolt of light on the subject, without painting the area.

[@philomenacesta563]

Thank you bery helpful tku

[@augenpraxiss]

Thank you! All the positive things that have been said are true. I spend a lot of time on your videos because they teach so much! What programme do you use to put the grid on to your reference pictures?

[@michaelholmquist6136]

Thank you Ian! I especially love your approach to using warm and cool colors and where to put them. Do these principles apply when painting a still life?

[@hushangakhlaghipoor6131]

Thankfully 😊⚘🌹🖐🏻🌷⚘😊

[@valerieh.708]

Yes it really did. I always have had such a chaotic experience with planning because I didn't know about keeping contrast constant. This is the missing key for me.

[@theophanygilgamesh3356]

Yes! This tip about constant contrast was very helpful!

[@kathleenclarkson-xd4vl]

Nice.

[@anitaguiresseb3382]

Hi, i love you vidéo and I have been watching almost all of them since I discovered your wonderful work., 5 days ago. I would like to ask you what type of support do you use for your paintings. Is it a special paper or another material? Thanks

[@amrutlalgajjar4157]

V nice sir

[@_zimik_purty_965]

sir where do you find such great images to paint i searching everywhere on internet but not got any like yours

[@lindamarquez3072]

Hi Ian, Thank you for the wonderful video. To clarify, do you mean that there will be a consistent value interval from light to dark in a scene in different areas? In the video you stated that there was 3 degree of change from shadow to light in both the trees and beach areas. That is the first I have heard this. Does it apply to only plein air? Thank you

[@filipemecenas]

Im making some animations , ALL your devices are great to plan animation !!!

[@katefleming4691]

Generally, do we want both cool and warm colours in one picture? Could you talk about how to paint a ‘cool’ as well as a ‘warm’ picture if hat might be what we want? I will meanwhile look around at pictures to see if I can tell. Thanks for your brilliant videos. Kate

[@karenharris3808]

so you call it Hot and cold colors? warm or cold. That how I was discovering how to do depth in art work.

[@colleenv7457]

Enjoy your videos, Ian. This lesson showed you mixing the colors with your brush. Do you usually mix with a brush vs palette knife?

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I always mix with a brush. I find mixing with a palette knife too slow.

[@JVjimjams]

Really informative! I am really surprised that the value shift is consistent between the light and shadows, is this always the case regardless of materials? Like would there still be the same value shift with metal, rocks or water as there is with the beach and the forest in this scene? Great videos, I just subscribed

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Jimmy, I think I say in there "give or take" meaning it is not hard and fast. But no it won't always be the same. That beach would be more reflective say than the trees so it would be somewhat lighter relative to the shift in the trees. But in principle it is the same, so with that in mind you notice variations on that. Rather than approaching each one as a mystery shift.

[@JVjimjams]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Ahh that makes sense. Use the rule as a rough guide, but there will be things that can vary the relative value shift such as reflectivity or atmosphere. I've always found picking believable shadow/light colours difficult ( a mystery shift describes it well), but I think this rule will help a lot, thanks!

[@christinerothmuller2597]

Beautiful ! do you use sometimes others colors but not thoses of the nature ? and how would that be ?

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I knew because of that particular scene and that it was a demo with only one idea to express I used a somewhat limited palette. But that the basic one for landscape.

[@masterpiecetools131]

The thing I was looking for is how color temperature helps with three dimensionality. But this also filled in some blanks. Thank you. I saw that you missed the angle of the sun line down the beach, and that puts the position of the sun into question, there would seem to need to be two suns for that to work out.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Sun's coming from low on the right and all the shadows are working with that I think.

[@judycarlton5019]

I learn so much from your demos, but I wondered why you don't do an undercoat before starting your painting.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Normally on small canvases I'd have a light toned surface. I think because I was not really thinking of the demo as a painting in its own right I just started. On large canvases I'll paint the whole thing in quickly with thin washes as the underpainting.

[@judycarlton5019]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thanks!!!!